Apple Pie Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

I have a habit of often missing the band wagon when it comes to the super cool on foodie things to do. Like quinoa. As always the vegans and the economically secure foodie have me beat by about two years. And my jealously of these groups continue....

My mother has been buying this stuff for a few years now but I've never been quite sure what to do with it. I know it is super food sent from God but what's a good way to make it other than a substitution for rice?

I would have never answered "breakfast" on my own for sure. But after seeing several recipes for breakfast-oatmeal-like quinoa I finally decided to try it.

Okay you're probably asking yourself why does a non-vegan/gluten free college student have quinoa handy in her pantry. The answer is I can't remember. I think it is leftover from a joint grocery trip between my mother and sister for my benefit last spring and I just never got around to using it. Well today was the day.

After searching for breakfast quinoa I came up with some promising options including one from my friend Carrie from Bakeaholic Mama but that delicious amazing treat will have to wait for a shopping trip. Today I had what I needed: quinoa, milk, an apple, and leftover Starbucks packets of brown sugar and nuts from a oatmeal bowl Aaron bought me about 8 months ago. Yeah, I'm a non perishable food hoarder, that’s why I have quinoa in my pantry right next to two cans of chickpeas and my prize asparagus rubber band collection.

 

 I was so excited to try this breakfast creation I almost made it for dessert the night before.

But alas I waited. I saw this delicious recipe for banana bread breakfast quinoa but once again I wanted to stay in the limits of my current food stash. I did have one pink lady apple for later snacking which would have to be sacrificed for this nobler cause. With brown sugar, mixed nuts, vanilla, and milk I knew I had the makings of an apple pie quinoa bowl. Creativity prevails over budget! Hoorah! Be careful when making yours because I sort of burnt mine a little.

Now as good and this was the prep alone makes it an unreasonable everyday "go to breakfast" option but for this one day it was magical...

This is definitely a possible "make ahead" breakfast you can whip out at your convenience. I temporarily feel like a cool vegan, I feel like I could start a band or something equally as cool... As soon as I buy some almond milk…

Apple Pie Quinoa Breakfast Bowl: 1 serving

(Adapted from Martha Stewart and Healthy. Happy. Life.)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of Quinoa, rinsed

1 cup of  non-fat milk

½ Pink Lady apple, chopped

¼ cup of walnuts or nuts

2 tbsp. brown sugar or honey

2 dashes of vanilla extract

½ tablespoon of butter

 

      

Directions:

In a small sauce pan bring milk to boil and stir in quinoa. Bring back to boil and then allow quinoa to simmer on low heat for 15 minutes with lid on.

Once quinoa is cooked with a little milk left over, add 1 tbsp. sweetener and a small dash of vanilla.

Meanwhile in a small skillet add butter over low heat. Add apples and nuts, dash of vanilla and 1 tbsp. of sweetener.  Allow the apples to soften and mixture to get sticky. Make sure the apples and nuts don’t get burned.

Remove from heat and add to cooked quinoa in a bowl, top with a splash of more milk if desired.

There you have it: tasty, relatively easy and super good for you.

Enjoy!

Love,

The College Cuisiner

P.s. don't forget to enter for your chance to win a Le Creuset Gratin dish! Just go this giveaway post and follow the instructions at the end! We only need 74 more facebook friends to tip off the giveway! Thanks so much!